Flexible joint



Jan. 1, 1946- OcoNNl-:LL H. DE sHlELns FLEXIBLE JOINT Filed July 3l,1944 y Patented rsa1, 194e A 2,391,885. f f

FLEXIBLE JOINT OConnell H. Deshiclds, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application July 31, 1944, Serial No. 547,473

2 Claims.

(Granted underv the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention .described herein if patented may bemanufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to pipe joints, and more particularly topipe joints wherein certain of the structural members are capable ofmovement with respect to others. In a more limited sense, there isprovided means whereby one of the structural members may have bothlongitudinal and rotational movement in regard to another. Theconstruction finds special application in pressing machines or the likein that it eliminates the employment of the conventional steam hoseconnection.

Numerous structures have been proposed heretofore to provide a flexiblejoint which will afford longitudinal and rotational movement of certainof the structural members. In the most part, however, these prior jointshave not proven entirely satisfactory since .they have a tendency topermit the uid passing therethrough to leak during use. Moreover. thestructures have been somewhat complex in construction, and the machinedparts have been diflicult to repair and replace.

An object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages of theprior art.

Another object is to provide a pipe joint wherein certain of thestructural members may have movement with respect to other members.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a flexiblepipe joint wherein one'of the members may have both longitudinal androtational movement with respect to another of the members.

Another object of this invention is to provide helical spring isdisposed within the body and one end thereof bears against the washer,land at the `same time urge the conduit toward the end of the body. Byvirtue of this construction, it is and rotational movement within thebody portion.

In the drawing in which like numerals indicate the same or similarparts:

Figure 1 is a, view in side elevation partly in section illustrating theprinciples of the invention.

Figure 2 -is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 ofFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a T- fitting I having aninternal bore 2 and internally threaded apertures 3', 4 and 5respectively. 'I'he aperture3 is closed by an externally threaded plug6, and a short section of pipe 'I is threaded into the aperture 4. Aconduit 8 having a threaded portion 9 is screwed into the aperture 5,and it will be noted that the free end of the conduit may have securedthereto a exible hose I0. The outer end of the pipe section 'i is formedwith external threads II and an internally threaded cap I2 formed with acentrally located opening I3 is threaded thereon.

Telescoping within the pipe section 'I is a conduit I4 having a bore I5extending longitudinally therein. It will be noted that the outsidediameter of the conduit Il is such that the conduit may have a slidingiit within the opening I3 of the cap I2. An annular ring I6 is sweatedon the conduit I4 adjacent the inner end thereof, and a washer I 'I isslidably mounted on the conduit and is spaced from the annular ring I6.As best shown in Figure 1, the external diameter of the ring I6 and thewasher I 'I provides a tight sliding t within the pipe section 1. Byhaving the external diameter of the ring I6 and the washer Il coincidesubstantially with the internal diameter of the pipe 1, it is apparentthat the conduit I4 will be held concentric with the axis of the pipesection l. This structure is eicacious in that the conduit will bemaintained in proper position with respect to the pipe section. Asuitable packing material I8 surrounds the conduit Il and fills theconduit I l outwardly tol maintain the washer' I'I against the cap I2,and at the same time keep the packing I8 tight against the pipe section1 and the washer to prevent the leakage of nuid.

apparent that the conduit may have longitudinal 56 y It will beappreciated therefore that the oon- A helical v duit I l is capable ofboth longitudinal and rotational movement with respect to the pipesection 1. The spring I3 by maintaining the packing against the washerwill prevent any leakage of uid passing through the conduit. 'I'hesection may be readily employed with conventional piping and used in anyplace where a iiexible Joint is desired. The elements may have freedomof movement without any-danger of leakage, and the joint does notrequire frequent repacking to maintain the fluid tight.

What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe joint comprising a T-fltting having threaded apertures, aclosure threaded at one end of the cross portion of said T-iitting, apipe section having one end thereof threaded at the other end oi' thecross portion of said T-iitting,.a closure having a centrally locatedaperture therein threaded on the other end of said pipe section, aconduit extending through the aperture in said last-mentioned closureand into said pipe section, said conduit having an annular ring attachedthereto adiacent the end thereof which extends into said pipe section, awasher slidably mounted on said conduit within said pipe section, apacking material disposed about said conduit between said ring and saidwasher, and spring means disposed within the cross portion of saidT-iitting,

threaded apertures. a closure threaded at one end oi.' the cross portionof said T-iitting, a pipe section having one end thereof threaded at theother -end of the cross portion of said T-ntting, a closure having acentrally located aperture therein threaded on the other end of saidpipe section, a conduit extending through the aperture in saidlast-mentioned closure and into said pipe section, said conduit havingan annular ring attached thereto adjacent the end thereof which extendsinto said pipe section, a washer slidably mounted on said conduit, apacking material disposed about said conduit between said ring and saidwasher. and a helical spring, normally under tension, disposed withinthe cross portion of said T-iitting, one end thereof engaging saidannular ring and the other end engaging said first-mentioned closure,and the stair portion of said T-iitting being adapted to receive aconduit whereby communication is established between said conduit andthe ring-carrying conduit.

O'CONNELL H. DESHIELDB.

